What do you think of this for a marketing idea

[Chrispy]

All I know about spoons is that they are for stirring with! which is what seems to be happening.

 

[SlayWitch]

I found the engraved spoons' idea really cool. never heard about that and sometimes it is not really easy to be creative

 

[powertools]

Basically I think that the idea of the spoons is a nice touch but to send them to random posh addresses is unlikely to have a better response than a well targeted leaflet drop.
If done well less effort can give better returns and you need to target your potential customers in a more controlled way.
To only target only posh houses is a mistake in my opinion, we all know young couples who work long hours, have no children and chose to live in smaller houses but fill them with the best quality items and are happy to pay to get what they want and have someone they trust to do it for them.
The same applies to more mature couples who have had the family and chose to downsize but will still want to have a house of the same standard or better than the posh house they had.
These type of people still live in nice areas and I would think that a good way to find them is to build up a relationship with local independent estate agents in those areas they will know a lot about the people who have purchased houses in the area, what they intend to do with them and how much they are likely to spend on them.
The same applies to local builders many will be given jobs but will not be able to build the internal fittings and will look to subcontract that work to a specialist such as yourself.
Another option is to track planning applications in the areas you want to work in and target those doing a ground floor extensions many will want to replace the kitchen at the same time.
As well as the spoons I think that the wooden business cards as suggested by another poster is a good idea.

To random bob.
I am not your old son and I don't need a lesson in modern business speak.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

To random bob.
I am not your old son and I don't need a lesson in modern business speak.

To Powertools

Here is a direct quote of your post to which I responded (reasonably I might add):

"Advertising is getting a potential customer to interested in your products. Marketing is getting that potential customer to purchase from you and not your competition"

So.....evidently you do need a lesson in modern business speak! And perhaps, I would add....in manners!

 

[powertools]

To random bob.
I am not your old son and I don't need a lesson in modern business speak.

To Powertools

Here is a direct quote of your post to which I responded (reasonably I might add):

"Advertising is getting a potential customer to interested in your products. Marketing is getting that potential customer to purchase from you and not your competition"

So.....evidently you do need a lesson in modern business speak! And perhaps, I would add....in manners!

I've got no problem with you or anyone else questioning my business ability but I am curious to know what you think is wrong with my manners.

 

[Mike.C]

Another interesting thread that is going downhill because for whatever reason one member does not like what another one said. I know that the weather is unusually warm but lets not get so hot under the collar and get back to the OP's question.

By the way Doc, great idea. =D>

Cheers

Mike

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

+1. It was absolutely a good idea and I only hope the "discussion" on marketing served to build on and expand it despite attempts to thwart it!

I really hope you post the results. I don't expect miracles because that's just staggeringly unlikely lets be honest. But any feedback will be interesting. Test test test

 

[doctor Bob]

Like I say, 300 spoons delivered.
They will be a slow burner, the engraving will not wear off for 10 years minimum, so I figure that will be enough time for the name to stick.
We are trying to build "a brand" or recognised name at the moment.
Luckily we have good word of mouth and reputation to be reasonably busy, the spoons are an idea to continue to build the business.
If 300 random spoons don't get a response within a few months then we will target more specifically.

to be honest Estate agents and builders want a massive backhander if they get us a kitchen....... I won't do that on principle as it escalates, the last builder to contact us wanted me to put £7500 on the cost of the kitchen for him. :shock: :shock:

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Ouch...I once built a house and the agent wanted a "drink" which translated to £5k. The justification was that he had reserved it "off market". Like you, I refused on principle and some months later we found he had pushed out a previous buyer and "reserved" it for me at a higher price!

So not only was he planning to gouge me for £5 large, he was also doing it under false pretences. So I have some sympathy with the trust issue you face. Best of luck with the customer building in any event

 

[Doug B]

I don't think you've quite grasped the concept of spooning there Bob :lol:

 

[bugbear]

to be honest Estate agents and builders want a massive backhander if they get us a kitchen....... I won't do that on principle as it escalates, the last builder to contact us wanted me to put £7500 on the cost of the kitchen for him. :shock: :shock:

No wonder there are trust issues amongst customers. You turned it down. But I bet he gets some "takers".

BugBear

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

In my business there is a kind of industry standard for what are quaintly termed "marketing referrals". If the order value is under a £100K then the business that brought the opportunity to the table can claim 5% of the revenue minus Cost of sale.

They only qualify if they declare the opportunity "up front" so there is no conflict with someone else in the sales team who might have it on their forecast already (or a distributor etc). So if it's genuinely new business then a 3rd party can be rewarded, legitimately and within a rational framework that's auditable.

What these lunatic builders/agents are attempting apart from staggeringly greedy in terms of the %margin to the job price they're asking....its also stupid because 999/1000 their ridiculous cost loading will push the price beyond competitive. Thus the only customers they will "gouge" are either stupid or don't have any money worries.

If they think it through they might eventually reach the conclusion that asking a modest "marketing referral premium" to hand over legitimate leads to a trusted kitchen company, would be far more likely to deliver consistent results over the long term. They might actually build an effective trusted working relationship with another professional and deliver happy customers who refer them to their friends. But.......I might have just strayed into cloud cuckoo land

 

[Graham Orm]

I tried the estate agents booklets a couple of times. The card folder that they hand out the property sheets in to prospective buyers. Not a solitary enquiry from either attempt. Complete waste of money.

The more I think of the spoons idea the more I like it. I'm sure it would work if posted through any property with a for sale board. Or maybe two at a time one labelled, and to be left for the incoming owner and one for the outgoing.